In the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the high-ranking guests the gas transportation systems of Russia and Europe were symbolically welded together and inaugurated the launch of the South Stream gas pipeline construction.

“The start-up of South Stream construction is indeed a historical event. The project embodies the intention of Russia and the countries of Southern and Central Europe to strengthen the partnership in the energy sector and to create a new reliable system of Russian gas supplies to European consumers.

South Stream is a comprehensive infrastructure project that gives a powerful impetus to development of the economies in the participating countries,” said Alexey Miller.

Background

For the purpose of diversifying natural gas export routes Gazprom is constructing a gas pipeline across the Black Sea to Southern and Central Europe – the South Stream project.

The offshore section of the South Stream gas pipeline will run under the Black Sea from the Russkaya compressor station to the Bulgarian coast. The total length of the Black Sea section will exceed 900 kilometers, its maximum depth will be more than two kilometers and its design capacity – 63 billion cubic meters.

On December 30, 2011 Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin authorized Gazprom to speed up the launch of the South Stream project and to start the gas pipeline construction in 2012.